Easter is my favorite holiday…partly because I was born on Easter. As Easter is a rotating holiday, it has only landed on my birthday three times but each time has made a definite and poignant mark in life. There is something amazing that happens at Easter. There’s an energy and excitement that radiates within our lives. We shout and declare, “Christ is Risen Indeed”!
For the last few days, I have heard many comments praising our preteens on their performance on the black light routine. They shared how this performance was memorizing, moving and dynamic. They shared how the Holy Spirit has impacted them throughout this performance and how significant it had been to demonstrate the power of Jesus’ resurrection. And I say, “Amen to that!”
First off, “Thank you preteens for leading us in such a transformational way. You ministered to us beyond our greatest expectations. You helped us experience the Jesus’ narrative in a way that drew us into the story and respond to the glory of God as we declared together, ‘Arise, Jesus, my Lord is alive!’”
However with all these comments it made me stop and think…how long will this last? We speak of mountaintop experiences and many of us recognize we can’t live in this extreme. But how can we take this spiritual “high” we experienced on Sunday and continue to allow it to resonate and affect us with a power that energizes us throughout the following days, weeks and even year?
Reading Wednesday’s gospel reading, John 15:1-11, I am reminded that it is our actions that energize us. “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). It is living out the resurrection that continues to give us the “high.” It isn’t a church service, it isn’t a specific pastor; it isn’t a class or even a great performance.
It is living out the hope of Jesus Christ through each relationship we develop, through each way we give back to those around us, throughout our community and throughout the world. It’s how respond to social justice issues and the equal treatment of all persons. Its waking up each moment affirming that they only way to respond to the new life, new freedom you have received through Christ is through loving God and loving others. And when you make a choice to do this, you choose to live in the resurrection, in the moment—all of a sudden you’ll find that you can live with a “high” that never fades. Because it’s when you “do” and bear the fruit of the resurrection that you are able to experience the life that energizes and radiates and lasts to infinity and beyond…
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Good Friday…Not Just a Catholic Thing
*Warning: This post is slightly longer than intended. Read on though – it will do you good! ☺
Many reading this blog are new to Good Friday. For many, when they hear Good Friday, the immediate thought is, “that’s a ‘Catholic thing.’” Well, I’m here to tell you that it is so much more than that – it is a Christ-follower thing. And therefore, it’s a thing for you.
Roman Catholics have made many mistakes and done many things wrong over the years: The Crusades, indulgences, The Inquisition, Mariology, and that’s not to mention some of the many contemporary problems that plague the Roman church, such as clergy abuse scandals, to name only one. We are right to be critical of these things. (But remember, some of these things are our history too, as Protestants trace their theological roots to Roman Catholicism. And, we too have many, many problems, including clergy abuse scandals – we just aren’t as organized and therefore don’t get as much publicity.) And yet, these things do not define, but rather they mar the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I have many Roman Catholic friends and acquaintances that put my faith and life to shame. I admire them, and their faith. And yes, I disagree with them on certain points as well! But this is not a defense of Roman Catholicism. Rather, I want to say a little about the importance of Good Friday.
Good Friday has been faithfully practiced by the church for as long as there has been a Church. Remember that movie The Passion? (I don’t recommend watching it more than once….) Well, it’s a version of the travelling passion plays that early followers of Jesus would put on in order to share the Gospel. In fact, many scholars believe that some of the gospel narratives in the NT (Mark in particular) are descendant from these early travelling evangelistic shows. The Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church (in all its variants), the Anglican Church, the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Methodist Church, all faithfully remember and celebrate Good Friday each year. And yes, that means that John Wesley would have personally officiated or participated in many such services. These services were essential to the early Methodists who pursued religious revival through their Methodist bands, or small groups. Good Friday has a long, rich, history, that for some is celebrated each year, and for some, like many of us, is being rediscovered out of the depths of our ecclesial heritage.
Put simply, Good Friday is the day each year, when Christians around the world remember the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Truly this was the darkest day in history. Jesus – the Messiah – the Christ – our Savior – was murdered, and not just by the Romans, and not just by the Jews, but rather it was both – Jew and Gentile alike that killed Jesus on that fateful day. In other words, all of humanity participated, and so, “all we like sheep have turned away, each has turned to her own way, and the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all upon Him” - we all have blood on our hands. So far, not so good, huh?
And yet, this is precisely what is so good about Good Friday. The day itself would have been terrifying, painful, confusing, or worse. Saturday, would have possibly been even worse still. But then came Sunday, and when that stone was rolled away, and the Angel of the Lord appeared to the two Marys the events of Friday were put into context, and that context was good – it was very good.
On Good Friday, we learn that God, who is not the creator of darkness, can nonetheless use darkness – even the darkest darkness – to bring about the most radiant light. My hope is that if you’re willing to embrace the darkness of Good Friday (Ash Wednesday is sort of a primer for Good Friday…..) then you will be able to better understand and appreciate the Light of Life that shines out for all to see on Easter Sunday.
Church, we have no choice, if we are to truly call ourselves followers of Christ, but to go with Him to the cross, and into the darkness. We do that today – but we do so, fortunately, with the knowledge that the darkness cannot and did not hold Him – and that means it cannot and will not hold us either! And that is very Good indeed!
Many reading this blog are new to Good Friday. For many, when they hear Good Friday, the immediate thought is, “that’s a ‘Catholic thing.’” Well, I’m here to tell you that it is so much more than that – it is a Christ-follower thing. And therefore, it’s a thing for you.
Roman Catholics have made many mistakes and done many things wrong over the years: The Crusades, indulgences, The Inquisition, Mariology, and that’s not to mention some of the many contemporary problems that plague the Roman church, such as clergy abuse scandals, to name only one. We are right to be critical of these things. (But remember, some of these things are our history too, as Protestants trace their theological roots to Roman Catholicism. And, we too have many, many problems, including clergy abuse scandals – we just aren’t as organized and therefore don’t get as much publicity.) And yet, these things do not define, but rather they mar the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I have many Roman Catholic friends and acquaintances that put my faith and life to shame. I admire them, and their faith. And yes, I disagree with them on certain points as well! But this is not a defense of Roman Catholicism. Rather, I want to say a little about the importance of Good Friday.
Good Friday has been faithfully practiced by the church for as long as there has been a Church. Remember that movie The Passion? (I don’t recommend watching it more than once….) Well, it’s a version of the travelling passion plays that early followers of Jesus would put on in order to share the Gospel. In fact, many scholars believe that some of the gospel narratives in the NT (Mark in particular) are descendant from these early travelling evangelistic shows. The Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church (in all its variants), the Anglican Church, the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Methodist Church, all faithfully remember and celebrate Good Friday each year. And yes, that means that John Wesley would have personally officiated or participated in many such services. These services were essential to the early Methodists who pursued religious revival through their Methodist bands, or small groups. Good Friday has a long, rich, history, that for some is celebrated each year, and for some, like many of us, is being rediscovered out of the depths of our ecclesial heritage.
Put simply, Good Friday is the day each year, when Christians around the world remember the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Truly this was the darkest day in history. Jesus – the Messiah – the Christ – our Savior – was murdered, and not just by the Romans, and not just by the Jews, but rather it was both – Jew and Gentile alike that killed Jesus on that fateful day. In other words, all of humanity participated, and so, “all we like sheep have turned away, each has turned to her own way, and the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all upon Him” - we all have blood on our hands. So far, not so good, huh?
And yet, this is precisely what is so good about Good Friday. The day itself would have been terrifying, painful, confusing, or worse. Saturday, would have possibly been even worse still. But then came Sunday, and when that stone was rolled away, and the Angel of the Lord appeared to the two Marys the events of Friday were put into context, and that context was good – it was very good.
On Good Friday, we learn that God, who is not the creator of darkness, can nonetheless use darkness – even the darkest darkness – to bring about the most radiant light. My hope is that if you’re willing to embrace the darkness of Good Friday (Ash Wednesday is sort of a primer for Good Friday…..) then you will be able to better understand and appreciate the Light of Life that shines out for all to see on Easter Sunday.
Church, we have no choice, if we are to truly call ourselves followers of Christ, but to go with Him to the cross, and into the darkness. We do that today – but we do so, fortunately, with the knowledge that the darkness cannot and did not hold Him – and that means it cannot and will not hold us either! And that is very Good indeed!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Passover
One of my favorite things about Holy Week is Maundy Thursday. I love the mystery of this day. Can you imagine being in the upper room with Jesus as he began officiate a traditional Passover meal and reinvent it in a new contextual medium. I love how this meal became a tangible way for Jesus’ disciples to respond to God’s invitation and to experience God’s love in such a sacrificial manner. I love how we are able to experience something in this moment that connects us with one another in a deep and personal way which we fully can’t even articulate. Yet we are fully aware of how this meal bonds and unites us together not just with one another in our church but with all people throughout the world in the past, present and future.
Last night, I had the privilege of leading our children and families in a Messianic Passover. It was a joy to watch children as young as Grace Springer and Paul Snodgrass interact with other children and adults as each person responded and retold the Passover narrative. It was a beautiful sight to watch us all prepare and participate in the rituals-tasting and holding different elements, reflecting and remembering how God has redeemed and delivered us. And it was awe-inspiring to hear us all recite various prayers and blessings together as we shouted out our dependence and praises to Adonai our God.
While we often assume that a Passover meal is only a Jewish tradition, I am reminded how even more significant and powerful this meal can be in the context of Jesus’ saving, self-giving sacrificial death and resurrection. It was a powerful reminder of how I can tangibly experience and re-live a part of the Jesus’ journey toward the cross. And this imagery will last with me long after the close of this Easter week because through this meal I was able to not only experience but participate with and live out Jesus’ missional vision of redeeming all humanity.
Last night, I had the privilege of leading our children and families in a Messianic Passover. It was a joy to watch children as young as Grace Springer and Paul Snodgrass interact with other children and adults as each person responded and retold the Passover narrative. It was a beautiful sight to watch us all prepare and participate in the rituals-tasting and holding different elements, reflecting and remembering how God has redeemed and delivered us. And it was awe-inspiring to hear us all recite various prayers and blessings together as we shouted out our dependence and praises to Adonai our God.
While we often assume that a Passover meal is only a Jewish tradition, I am reminded how even more significant and powerful this meal can be in the context of Jesus’ saving, self-giving sacrificial death and resurrection. It was a powerful reminder of how I can tangibly experience and re-live a part of the Jesus’ journey toward the cross. And this imagery will last with me long after the close of this Easter week because through this meal I was able to not only experience but participate with and live out Jesus’ missional vision of redeeming all humanity.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Play Ball!
I played baseball in high school. I wasn't great, but I wasn't terrible. I was just a middle-of-the-road pitcher/infielder who could get a curveball over for a strike, make a half-way accurate throw across the diamond from third base and lay down a pretty decent sacrifice bunt when called upon to do so. My greatest baseball skill, however, was my ability to keep a neat and precise scorebook. I know how to record a 6-4-3 DP, a 5-3 PO, and an E-9 with the best of them. Trust me…I had plenty of opportunities to "keep the book." (For those of you who don't speak 'baseball,' that means I wasn't in the starting lineup. Unfortunately, one cannot play the game and keep score at the same time, which means I didn't get too excited when my coach said, "Hey Mark, can you do me a favor?")
I remember trying out for an American Legion team and making it to the last round of cuts. Before the coach cut me he called me over and said, "Snodgrass, you know there's only one thing keeping you from playing college baseball…talent." I went home that evening and gave up my dream of playing 2nd base for the Chicago Cubs. Like the sons of Zebedee leaving their nets to follow Jesus, I left my glove at the ballpark and became a fisher of men…or something like that. At least I turned pro in something.
I hated facing #15 from Sumter Christian. I don't remember his name, but I can tell you he was left-handed and used an Easton "Black Magic" bat. I wish I could say he was using performance enhancers, but the truth is he wasn't fooled in the least by my 63 mph slide-piece. My 75 mph fastball wasn't too intimidating either. He always hit me well, but the last game we played @Sumter he hit 2 home runs off me that still haven't landed. Seriously, NASA has confirmed those baseballs are orbiting Mars at this point. I think everyone in the lineup knocked me around that day, but those were by far the longest home runs I had ever given up.
I think about facing #15 and a passage of scripture from this week's reading jumps out at me. Remember how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? How can you forget, right? The religious authorities and those who opposed Jesus were very disturbed by this. You might say they hated facing Lazarus. Jesus had used his death to hit for the cycle and as a result, many people were coming to believe in Jesus. We read this in John 12:
"So the chief priests make plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him." (John 12:11-12)
I read that this week and thought about how Lazarus was the kind of guy the enemy didn't want to face. His life…and death…and life again brought honor and glory to God to the point that the enemies of Jesus wanted him dead…again!
I want the kind of player the powers of darkness are worried about facing. I want the enemy of my soul to know that every time my spot in the lineup comes up it's going to be trouble.
But before I get too carried away, I have to ask myself, "What did Lazarus do that made him such a threat in God's starting lineup?" The answer might surprise you. I know it did me. Very simply, Lazarus died. It was his weakness, his illness and ultimately his death that gave Jesus the opportunity to call him out of the tomb. This miracle of all miracles drew many people to faith in Christ, but Lazarus had to die so that Jesus could bring glory to the Father and draw others to faith.
I still want to be the kind of follower the devil hates to face. However, as I hold the scriptures up to my life and see the truth of who I am apart from Christ, I'm reminded that there's only one thing keeping me from being that kind of disciple…talent.
"Lord, as we die with you, may our sin, our failures, our selfishness die as well. In dying with you, may you raise us to new life so that we would be the kind of person that brings glory to you and draws others to faith. Amen."
Play ball!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Things Are Not Always As They Appear
Have you ever met someone and because of their first impression decided that this was a person you wanted to be associated with? Or worse yet, have you ever met a person and decided immediately that you didn’t want to associate with this person because of what you interpreted to be their true personality?
I have multiple times. I have met people over the years and immediately decided that we were going to be great friends. Truth be told, something happened in the course of our friendship that hurt the relationship often because I dove too deeply, too quickly without finding out everything about that person. I’ve also made the decision that I was not going to like someone when I first met them only to find out that I was totally wrong. I had prejudged them and I had not given them a chance. Honestly, out of the two scenarios, I am more sad about the latter; I hurt another person because I had not given them a chance.
As we begin Holy Week, I can’t help but wonder what was going on in the heads of the people in the crowd and in the heads of the disciples. Picture Jesus getting ready to go into Jerusalem. Was he full of excitement or full of apprehension? Picture the disciples following Jesus and hanging on His every word and action. And picture the large number of people who are in the city of Jerusalem. There must have been a sense of excitement and a sense of relief that their lives were about to change. Or so they thought. In their minds, the King that they have been hearing about for generations was finally here. This King was going to swoop in and save the day.
I can’t help but wonder what was going on in Jesus’ head as well. He knows that these people are expecting Him to take care of everything. He knows that in many ways, He will disappoint them because what Jesus knows as “taking care of everything” is not the same as what the crowd thinks. He knows that some of the very people that are celebrating His entry into Jerusalem will be the same ones that will turn their backs on Him in his deepest hour of need.
It saddens me when I think about those in my life that I have misjudged. I was willing to dismiss what was deep down because of what I thought I saw on the surface. Did those in the crowd feel the same way when they saw Jesus being tried, beaten and forced to endure great pain carrying his own cross? Did they question why Jesus didn’t just call down a legion of angels to do battle for him? Did they question if Jesus for the “real deal”? Were they willing to go with the crowd because of fear? Peter was. Remember he denied Christ three times.
I wonder if I would have been in that group as well. I wish that I could say that I would see beneath the surface but I’m not sure if I really would. I’ve misjudged before. As I begin this week that will prove to be a week of many emotions, I pray that I will take the time to see people and situations as they truly are; not as they appear to be.
Will you?
I have multiple times. I have met people over the years and immediately decided that we were going to be great friends. Truth be told, something happened in the course of our friendship that hurt the relationship often because I dove too deeply, too quickly without finding out everything about that person. I’ve also made the decision that I was not going to like someone when I first met them only to find out that I was totally wrong. I had prejudged them and I had not given them a chance. Honestly, out of the two scenarios, I am more sad about the latter; I hurt another person because I had not given them a chance.
As we begin Holy Week, I can’t help but wonder what was going on in the heads of the people in the crowd and in the heads of the disciples. Picture Jesus getting ready to go into Jerusalem. Was he full of excitement or full of apprehension? Picture the disciples following Jesus and hanging on His every word and action. And picture the large number of people who are in the city of Jerusalem. There must have been a sense of excitement and a sense of relief that their lives were about to change. Or so they thought. In their minds, the King that they have been hearing about for generations was finally here. This King was going to swoop in and save the day.
I can’t help but wonder what was going on in Jesus’ head as well. He knows that these people are expecting Him to take care of everything. He knows that in many ways, He will disappoint them because what Jesus knows as “taking care of everything” is not the same as what the crowd thinks. He knows that some of the very people that are celebrating His entry into Jerusalem will be the same ones that will turn their backs on Him in his deepest hour of need.
It saddens me when I think about those in my life that I have misjudged. I was willing to dismiss what was deep down because of what I thought I saw on the surface. Did those in the crowd feel the same way when they saw Jesus being tried, beaten and forced to endure great pain carrying his own cross? Did they question why Jesus didn’t just call down a legion of angels to do battle for him? Did they question if Jesus for the “real deal”? Were they willing to go with the crowd because of fear? Peter was. Remember he denied Christ three times.
I wonder if I would have been in that group as well. I wish that I could say that I would see beneath the surface but I’m not sure if I really would. I’ve misjudged before. As I begin this week that will prove to be a week of many emotions, I pray that I will take the time to see people and situations as they truly are; not as they appear to be.
Will you?
Friday, April 15, 2011
So How's Your Lenten Fast Going
You may or may not know this about me, but for many, many years I waited tables. For example, while living in Kansas City, I worked at the Rainforest Café for a year (one of my least favorite restaurant experiences!) and The Cheesecake Factory for three. I enjoyed the latter much more than the former! Typically, I took all my classes all day and night on Monday and then Tuesday night, which allowed me to work Tuesday through Saturday during the day at The Cheesecake Factory. And yes, I worked different church jobs (without pay) on top of all that!
Anyway, during Lent I often am reminded of the funny reactions I would get from people on Fridays when I would tell them the specials. The soup was always Clam Chowder, and we also had a fish of the day. More often than I can count, a person would act disinterested in the specials, and then, as if suddenly struck by some small and painful object in their neck, they would crane their neck and exclaim, "Ohhhhhhh...... I almost forgot, it's Friday, so I can't have meat." Then, having just barely remember their Lenten ball and chain, they would proceed to half-heartedly order something that they would assure me, they were not very interested in. (Now, they would almost always end up enjoying their lunch....it was The Cheesecake Factory after all, but that's beside the point.) Lent, and their Christian beliefs in general, was a burden, rather than a blessing. For these folks, the Lenten fast was not about giving something up, or making sacrifices, in order to intentionally pursue a closer walk with Jesus. Rather, it was just a stale tradition. I don't know how many times I wanted to say, "Listen, as a pastor and a theologian, just order whatever kind of meat you want, because you've clearly missed the whole point, and you're not getting anything out of this!" Rest assured, I kept my thoughts to myself!
But now I won't.
If I might be so bold, how's your Lenten fast going? Has it been beneficial? Have you been able to find time and motivation to spend more time in prayer, more time studying Scripture, more time serving, more time seeking forgiveness? If the answer to one or more of these questions is "yes," then congratulations, keep it up! Or, has it been annoying, tedious, frustrating, or simply unpleasant? Be honest. If your answer to this second set of questions is "yes" then perhaps you need to refocus, or perhaps you need to give up the fast. A Lenten fast, though perhaps difficult, and certainly sacrificial, is meant to be fulfilling, and rewarding. It is meant to help you to draw nearer to Jesus. You won't be able to do this if you are constantly frustrated.
Don't forget, fasting for Lent is not in Scripture, Jesus didn't command it to His disciples, nor is it commandment #11 given to Moses, on Monty Python's infamous third tablet. You don't have to do it, and you don't get extra points for doing it either. I think you will find, however, that a Lenten fast is a great way of refocusing, of getting your priorities straight, and of embracing a life of sacrifice - which is after all, a big part of discipleship. You give up some things to follow Christ - but you gain so much more.
So, you've got about a week left of your Lenten fast. Facebook, meat, diet coke, coffee, talking, texting, whatever you've chosen to give up, I want to challenge you to really make the most of it this last week. Your fast is a chance to remember that God has a call on your life - that you are called to live differently. Seen from this perspective, I would think that the person in the restaurant should have said, "Oh yeah, it's Lent and so I get to shake up my diet for a while to remember just how blessed I am in the first place, and that every good gift comes from God the Father above - and that includes food!"
"For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalm 51:16-17
Anyway, during Lent I often am reminded of the funny reactions I would get from people on Fridays when I would tell them the specials. The soup was always Clam Chowder, and we also had a fish of the day. More often than I can count, a person would act disinterested in the specials, and then, as if suddenly struck by some small and painful object in their neck, they would crane their neck and exclaim, "Ohhhhhhh...... I almost forgot, it's Friday, so I can't have meat." Then, having just barely remember their Lenten ball and chain, they would proceed to half-heartedly order something that they would assure me, they were not very interested in. (Now, they would almost always end up enjoying their lunch....it was The Cheesecake Factory after all, but that's beside the point.) Lent, and their Christian beliefs in general, was a burden, rather than a blessing. For these folks, the Lenten fast was not about giving something up, or making sacrifices, in order to intentionally pursue a closer walk with Jesus. Rather, it was just a stale tradition. I don't know how many times I wanted to say, "Listen, as a pastor and a theologian, just order whatever kind of meat you want, because you've clearly missed the whole point, and you're not getting anything out of this!" Rest assured, I kept my thoughts to myself!
But now I won't.
If I might be so bold, how's your Lenten fast going? Has it been beneficial? Have you been able to find time and motivation to spend more time in prayer, more time studying Scripture, more time serving, more time seeking forgiveness? If the answer to one or more of these questions is "yes," then congratulations, keep it up! Or, has it been annoying, tedious, frustrating, or simply unpleasant? Be honest. If your answer to this second set of questions is "yes" then perhaps you need to refocus, or perhaps you need to give up the fast. A Lenten fast, though perhaps difficult, and certainly sacrificial, is meant to be fulfilling, and rewarding. It is meant to help you to draw nearer to Jesus. You won't be able to do this if you are constantly frustrated.
Don't forget, fasting for Lent is not in Scripture, Jesus didn't command it to His disciples, nor is it commandment #11 given to Moses, on Monty Python's infamous third tablet. You don't have to do it, and you don't get extra points for doing it either. I think you will find, however, that a Lenten fast is a great way of refocusing, of getting your priorities straight, and of embracing a life of sacrifice - which is after all, a big part of discipleship. You give up some things to follow Christ - but you gain so much more.
So, you've got about a week left of your Lenten fast. Facebook, meat, diet coke, coffee, talking, texting, whatever you've chosen to give up, I want to challenge you to really make the most of it this last week. Your fast is a chance to remember that God has a call on your life - that you are called to live differently. Seen from this perspective, I would think that the person in the restaurant should have said, "Oh yeah, it's Lent and so I get to shake up my diet for a while to remember just how blessed I am in the first place, and that every good gift comes from God the Father above - and that includes food!"
"For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalm 51:16-17
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Did He Mean to Say That?
I'm not sure he realized what he was saying.
This week we studied the story of Lazarus in John 11. So much of that story revolves around Jesus' decision to stay in Judea an additional 2 days, a delay that ultimately resulted in the death of Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha and beloved friend of Jesus. Upon revealing to the disciples that Lazarus had passed, Jesus summoned the disciples to accompany him to Bethany, a trip that was perilous in light of Jesus' enemies in that area who had tried to stone him. There was also much about this trip that now seemed pointless since Lazarus was already dead. Wasn't it Jesus who had previously said, "Let the dead bury their own dead"???
That's when he said what he said:
"Let us also go that we may die with him." (Thomas the Twin, John 11:16)
"What did you mean by that, Thomas?" This statement has always puzzled me. This is the first of 3 statements from Thomas in John's account. All three times Thomas gets a few lines in this drama they are unique to say the least, as evidenced by his encounter with the risen Christ that earns him the title, "Doubting Thomas." It's hard not to read the skepticism of John 20 into this statement to his fellow disciples. Was he being skeptical? Was he being sarcastic? Was he being pessimistic? This statement may have been a combination of all three. Upon further reflection, I'm not sure he realized what he was saying, however, it was a mouth-full.
Jesus' raising of Lazarus would be the last straw for those that opposed him. John 11 concludes with the opponents of Jesus plotting his arrest and execution. Ironically, the raising of Lazarus results in the death of Jesus. Jesus' promise that this "sickness will not end in death, but it is for God's glory…" is prophetic. God will be glorified through the raising of Lazarus, but infinitely more glory is displayed in the death and resurrection of Jesus – events made possible by Jesus' ill-advised trip to Bethany.
Whether he knew it or not, Thomas is inviting us to experience the death and resurrection of Jesus. Let us go and "die" with Christ.
I wasn't sure why a professor wanted to read a portion of my paper out loud, but that's what happened one day after we had turned in a final project in a class on the Synoptic Gospels. In the paper, I had offered a few comments on an enigmatic statement of Jesus and hadn't given that section of the paper a 2nd thought – that is until our professor decided to pour effusive praise on my exposition of the text and commend my "creative approach." To make a long story short, that which the professor thought was so great about my paper was actually the complete opposite of what I had intended. Thanks to my poor writing, I conveyed in the paper a polar opposite of what I had intended in my mind. I got an "A" on the paper. However, I was reminded that my academic skills and golf game could both be described by this simple adage: "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then."
Like Thomas, I had no idea what I was actually saying. The 20th Century Martyr, Dietrich Bonheoffer said, "when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." I wonder if he ever studied Thomas in John 11? It sure looks like it. Whether Thomas knew it or not, that's essentially what he says to his fellow disciples and to us: "Let us also go that we may die with him."
Following Jesus couldn't get any clearer than that.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Growth
Have you ever had a chance to watch something grow?
Sometimes we forget to notice the little steps of growth that take place en route to a finished product - be it a person, a project, or something else. Growth is sometimes hard to monitor. When it is recognized, it is sometimes beautiful and meaningful, but it can also be awkward, and even painful. For this reason, we often want to skip over growth altogether to the finished product. To do so, however, is to miss out on all the good stuff. (Its also quite unrealistic!)
This past week I've been thinking about growth - a lot! The seeds I've planted in our little raised bed gardens are beginning to poke out of the ground, forcing me to not only water them, but also to prune out some of the shoots, in order that a healthy plant will grow. It's painful to cut a healthy little shoot. What did it do wrong? I planted it, didn't I? But the reality is, if two shoots are growing in the same spot, failure to prune back one, will result in two weak plants. Pruning one, however, will result in one strong plant. And so, I prune....
I've also been thinking of my little baby girl who is growing right now. We get emails every week, comparing her growth to the most ridiculously random vegetables and fruits, all for the sake of trying to convey her growth to us. (One even said she was the size of a Sock Monkey this week!) This week we also read that our little girl has finally grown to the size that she would be capable of living were she to come early. Wow, what an amazing thought! (But let's hope she stays put for a few more months!)
And finally, this week, I've been thinking a lot about your growth, about the growth of the congregation of BNC. How can we fulfill our call and commission to make disciples of all the nations? Who is a disciple, and how does one go about making one? What do we need to prune, and what do we need to water? Are we content with what we're doing, or are we ready to journey further up and further in (a favorite expression of mine from C.S. Lewis) with Jesus?
One of my primary jobs at BNC is to shape and guide our efforts at discipleship. I must be honest, for various reasons, I haven't been able to concentrate as much of my attention to that aspect of my job as I would have liked over the past year or so. Now that I am able to, I've been seized by how serious a responsibility that is, and how much work we have to do. Discipleship - your growth (and mine) into the image of our Lord - is one of, if not the, biggest responsibility I have as a pastor. I take that very seriously. We are a church full of disciples, but we must take seriously the call to discipleship, and we must pursue that call with all of our strength, determination, and focus. Discipleship is a never-ending journey. Discipleship is to be our number one priority. This week, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about how we can make that focus a reality.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to be the Interim Pastor for a wonderful group of people in a small town in New Mexico. While there, I preached a sermon series on the Letter of James. While studying James' Epistle to the scattered faithful, the rich, organic imagery struck me. In particular I was drawn to the image that the followers of Christ are to be the "first fruits of the Kingdom (James 1:18, et al....). The followers of Christ, you and me, are to be the first fruits of God's heavenly Kingdom on this Earth. What a wonderful image!
And so, we've come full circle: growth. Growing seeds, growing people, growing disciples. Watering, pruning, discipleship.
Let's not skip over all the small little moments of growth. Let's not ignore the painful moments and only focus on the joyous ones. Let's savor the journey, and let's be intentional about where our destination is, and why we're trying to get there.
May you form us, dear Lord, into your faithful people.
Sometimes we forget to notice the little steps of growth that take place en route to a finished product - be it a person, a project, or something else. Growth is sometimes hard to monitor. When it is recognized, it is sometimes beautiful and meaningful, but it can also be awkward, and even painful. For this reason, we often want to skip over growth altogether to the finished product. To do so, however, is to miss out on all the good stuff. (Its also quite unrealistic!)
This past week I've been thinking about growth - a lot! The seeds I've planted in our little raised bed gardens are beginning to poke out of the ground, forcing me to not only water them, but also to prune out some of the shoots, in order that a healthy plant will grow. It's painful to cut a healthy little shoot. What did it do wrong? I planted it, didn't I? But the reality is, if two shoots are growing in the same spot, failure to prune back one, will result in two weak plants. Pruning one, however, will result in one strong plant. And so, I prune....
I've also been thinking of my little baby girl who is growing right now. We get emails every week, comparing her growth to the most ridiculously random vegetables and fruits, all for the sake of trying to convey her growth to us. (One even said she was the size of a Sock Monkey this week!) This week we also read that our little girl has finally grown to the size that she would be capable of living were she to come early. Wow, what an amazing thought! (But let's hope she stays put for a few more months!)
And finally, this week, I've been thinking a lot about your growth, about the growth of the congregation of BNC. How can we fulfill our call and commission to make disciples of all the nations? Who is a disciple, and how does one go about making one? What do we need to prune, and what do we need to water? Are we content with what we're doing, or are we ready to journey further up and further in (a favorite expression of mine from C.S. Lewis) with Jesus?
One of my primary jobs at BNC is to shape and guide our efforts at discipleship. I must be honest, for various reasons, I haven't been able to concentrate as much of my attention to that aspect of my job as I would have liked over the past year or so. Now that I am able to, I've been seized by how serious a responsibility that is, and how much work we have to do. Discipleship - your growth (and mine) into the image of our Lord - is one of, if not the, biggest responsibility I have as a pastor. I take that very seriously. We are a church full of disciples, but we must take seriously the call to discipleship, and we must pursue that call with all of our strength, determination, and focus. Discipleship is a never-ending journey. Discipleship is to be our number one priority. This week, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about how we can make that focus a reality.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to be the Interim Pastor for a wonderful group of people in a small town in New Mexico. While there, I preached a sermon series on the Letter of James. While studying James' Epistle to the scattered faithful, the rich, organic imagery struck me. In particular I was drawn to the image that the followers of Christ are to be the "first fruits of the Kingdom (James 1:18, et al....). The followers of Christ, you and me, are to be the first fruits of God's heavenly Kingdom on this Earth. What a wonderful image!
And so, we've come full circle: growth. Growing seeds, growing people, growing disciples. Watering, pruning, discipleship.
Let's not skip over all the small little moments of growth. Let's not ignore the painful moments and only focus on the joyous ones. Let's savor the journey, and let's be intentional about where our destination is, and why we're trying to get there.
May you form us, dear Lord, into your faithful people.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Ashes to Ashes
This week the saying, “from ashes you came and ashes you will return,” took on a new meaning for me. On Monday morning, my great aunt Donna Johnston passed away and with this death I have been thinking about what it means to become ashes. Ashes have no distinguishing color, characteristic or even design. (I mean have you ever heard of people making ash-flakes?) Basically ashes are simply a grey pile of nothingness. They are completely undistinguishable from another lump of ashes.
And yet the in-between time, between ashes to ashes, there is life, variety, creativity, individuality. We are created out of the same elements but through God’s breath and design we were created to live and respond differently. And during our short amount of time on this Earth, we have the opportunity to express ourselves in new and poignant ways.
Working with kids I am reminded of how much we (as a culture) are influenced to look or act a certain way. Oftentimes, children and teens struggle with fitting into a certain mold or expectation. We struggle with wanting to be the “same,” to really look undistinguishable from the other “popular” ones. And yet as I have been contemplating my aunt’s death I am reminded that we all return as ashes.
We begin and end the same.
Yet in the middle we were created to be different. Romans 12:6 tells us that “we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” I am reminded of beautiful snowflakes crafts. They all begin with the same white paper and scissors. Yet when each child finishes, no two look the same. We aren’t created to hide or conform our uniqueness. Instead we have the opportunity, no responsibility, to lead with them. Because once our time is over, it is to ashes we return.
I am reminded this week of my uniqueness, of the gifts God has blessed me with and the ability to create a unique impact on this world. I am reminded of how easy it is to want to live on autopilot or to try to conform to a certain pattern of expectations for living. Yet, this is the time I have. This is the time I have to make a difference. This is the time I have to demonstrate what it means to fully love God and others through every aspect of my being. This is our time. May we be challenged to live boldly this week as we seek to express ourselves through living out the great commandment in our own uniqueness.
And yet the in-between time, between ashes to ashes, there is life, variety, creativity, individuality. We are created out of the same elements but through God’s breath and design we were created to live and respond differently. And during our short amount of time on this Earth, we have the opportunity to express ourselves in new and poignant ways.
Working with kids I am reminded of how much we (as a culture) are influenced to look or act a certain way. Oftentimes, children and teens struggle with fitting into a certain mold or expectation. We struggle with wanting to be the “same,” to really look undistinguishable from the other “popular” ones. And yet as I have been contemplating my aunt’s death I am reminded that we all return as ashes.
We begin and end the same.
Yet in the middle we were created to be different. Romans 12:6 tells us that “we have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” I am reminded of beautiful snowflakes crafts. They all begin with the same white paper and scissors. Yet when each child finishes, no two look the same. We aren’t created to hide or conform our uniqueness. Instead we have the opportunity, no responsibility, to lead with them. Because once our time is over, it is to ashes we return.
I am reminded this week of my uniqueness, of the gifts God has blessed me with and the ability to create a unique impact on this world. I am reminded of how easy it is to want to live on autopilot or to try to conform to a certain pattern of expectations for living. Yet, this is the time I have. This is the time I have to make a difference. This is the time I have to demonstrate what it means to fully love God and others through every aspect of my being. This is our time. May we be challenged to live boldly this week as we seek to express ourselves through living out the great commandment in our own uniqueness.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Is Anyone Listening?
Hello? Is anybody out there? …
Do you ever feel like you don’t have a voice, or at least a voice that is being heard and understood?
"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Isaiah 1:17.
God calls us to make a difference. But to make a difference, we must start by listening to who is crying out. This week, I had the privilege of attending a two day training for not-for-profit leaders. I sat around the table with staff members and board members from various nonprofit organizations in NWA. Some of these organizations are chapters of a larger organization. One organization is governed by the mayor and city council. And some of the organizations are stand alone entities which target specific needs in the community. I saw people who are passionate about the poor, the hungry, the under-educated, those who have been removed from their caregivers for one reason or another, and for the many people in our area with varying special needs.
At one point of the training, we were talking about how easy it is to become tired or burned out because the needs far outweigh what any one organization can handle. As the group started to have its own little pity party, one of the staff members made the statement that because of how their organization is set up, they rarely get to see if they make a difference in the lives of the children they serve. After a few minutes, I spoke up. I let them know on behalf on my family, they truly were making a difference in the lives of those that they serve. I continued by telling them … “The Children’s Shelter” … that my own children benefitted from their love and care before they came to live with us and eventually adopted into our family. What an awesome feeling to be able to share our personal story with the people who helped save two small boys.
Why am I writing this in the BNC blog? Every day we look around and see people who have needs … who are crying out for help. There are people who need help with finances. There are people who need help with food, clothing, utilities, and other basic necessities that most of us take for granted. There are people who need help with their relationships. And of course, there are those who need help with their spiritual lives. I am proud to be part of a church that is serious about making a difference. I’ve seen the food pantry buzzing with people. I’ve seen people willing to step out and offer free counseling. I’ve seen backpacks filled and children sent home with snacks to keep them from being hungry on the weekends. I’ve watched 100 women and men cry when a mother and her daughter was presented with Christmas presents and an entire nursery.
Are we always listening? Do we always hear the cries? No, not always but we get better each and every day.
Don’t think what you are doing is not making a difference in the lives of others.
It is …
Do you ever feel like you don’t have a voice, or at least a voice that is being heard and understood?
"Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” Isaiah 1:17.
God calls us to make a difference. But to make a difference, we must start by listening to who is crying out. This week, I had the privilege of attending a two day training for not-for-profit leaders. I sat around the table with staff members and board members from various nonprofit organizations in NWA. Some of these organizations are chapters of a larger organization. One organization is governed by the mayor and city council. And some of the organizations are stand alone entities which target specific needs in the community. I saw people who are passionate about the poor, the hungry, the under-educated, those who have been removed from their caregivers for one reason or another, and for the many people in our area with varying special needs.
At one point of the training, we were talking about how easy it is to become tired or burned out because the needs far outweigh what any one organization can handle. As the group started to have its own little pity party, one of the staff members made the statement that because of how their organization is set up, they rarely get to see if they make a difference in the lives of the children they serve. After a few minutes, I spoke up. I let them know on behalf on my family, they truly were making a difference in the lives of those that they serve. I continued by telling them … “The Children’s Shelter” … that my own children benefitted from their love and care before they came to live with us and eventually adopted into our family. What an awesome feeling to be able to share our personal story with the people who helped save two small boys.
Why am I writing this in the BNC blog? Every day we look around and see people who have needs … who are crying out for help. There are people who need help with finances. There are people who need help with food, clothing, utilities, and other basic necessities that most of us take for granted. There are people who need help with their relationships. And of course, there are those who need help with their spiritual lives. I am proud to be part of a church that is serious about making a difference. I’ve seen the food pantry buzzing with people. I’ve seen people willing to step out and offer free counseling. I’ve seen backpacks filled and children sent home with snacks to keep them from being hungry on the weekends. I’ve watched 100 women and men cry when a mother and her daughter was presented with Christmas presents and an entire nursery.
Are we always listening? Do we always hear the cries? No, not always but we get better each and every day.
Don’t think what you are doing is not making a difference in the lives of others.
It is …
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